When I was advised at my 12 week appointment that most identical twin pregnancies result in csection my heart broke a little. I had hopes of having a water birth, with both my husband and mum present, but maybe that wasn’t to be.
At 18 weeks, after reading A LOT online I’d decided I wanted a csection as the risks of times between deliveries etc seemed too high. I’m not going to lie, I was terrified. I then spent hours watching YouTube videos of people showing and discussing their scars etc. This made me feel the worst. I had to come round to the fact that my body was never going to look like it did before. I would probably have stretch marks, saggy skin and a scar, but some of them were pretty horrific.
I was told horror story after horror story of what had happened ‘to their friend’... “she had be cut in both directions. Will they do that for twins?” “She decided to drive too early, and when she had to do an emergency stop it ripped open”😷!
I was so worried, and on occasions when the operation was discussed I’d burst into tears. I was also anxious about having to sit still for the epidural!
If you read my previous posts you’d know I went into premature labour at 34 weeks. Thankfully I was in too much pain to worry, and literally walked myself to theatre. My contractions were coming every 2 minutes and lasting 30 seconds. I was panicking so much, I begged for them to take the pain away and get the babies out safe ASAP!
For the first 48 hours it was covered by a large dressing, and Gavin or my mum pushed me from the ward to neonatal in a wheelchair. After that I was then advised by the nurses to remove the dressing and I was allowed to shower. It was pretty uncomfortable, but luckily my mum was there to help with the tugging. It was quite a site initially, and the stitches were very visible. I had a bead at one end that kept catching everything 😔
For advice for this stage, check out my previous post: http://craigtwinsuk.blogspot.co.uk/2016/08/caesarean-section-advice.html?m=1
After a week I had the stitches removed, which literally involves them cutting off the bead and tugging out the stitch from one side. The pulling made me feel a bit light headed, but I’m a bit squeamish with that sort of thing. BUT it was already starting to look okay!
Some months past and I religiously used bio-oil on my tummy and scar. I did get a small infection in the wound, but I was brave and squeezed out the nasty stuff and it did the trick! The healing process seemed to speed up after that point.
Now the bit you’ve all been waiting for! This is what it looks like 2 years on...
Of course you can still see it. But on holiday etc, it’s hidden under my bikini. And I'd do it all over again to have my beautiful boys! I hope that someone in the same position as me 2.5 years ago, frantically googling 'c-section scars' will see this, and it will reassure them that some really do look okay!